By
Aura Energy is at the forefront of providing advanced energy storage and power solutions tailored specifically for defence and critical infrastructure needs. As an Australian-owned innovator in the energy sector, Aura Clean Energy is dedicated to delivering resilient, scalable, and efficient energy systems that bridge the power gap for Defence infrastructure and capability systems, particularly supporting Defence's strategy for strategic denial whether through agile basing, littoral manoeuvre, or other operational campaigns.
Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS)
The company's flagship product, the Aura Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS), exemplifies this commitment. HESS are versatile and scalable power solutions designed to support a wide range of applications and natively host third-party capability. These systems are designed to transfer energy and deliver it at the pace of battle, with efficiency to enable effective logistics sustainment.
Offering up to 230kW from a storage of up to 600kWh in each system the capability can be aggregated into capacity well beyond 10MW for resilient support of bases subject to disruption. At the smaller end, Aura HESS can be mobile and transportable by air, land or sea, offering up to 75kWh of safe LiFePo battery storage, supplying up to 60kW of peak power and 37.5kW of continuous power. All HESS can be clustered into matrixes that enable greater capacity and resilience.
Compatible with both legacy or new generators, HESS 75 can accept power from various sources including grid, diesel, hydrogen, AC/DC, solar, wind, or CHP and through Aura Clean Energy’s innovative degradation by design, the power supply remains stable even when some systems fail.
HESS reduces diesel consumption by up to 70% without the need for photovoltaic (PV) systems and with over 94% of its materials sourced from Australia, Aura Clean Energy not only supports local economies but also minimizes supply chain risks, ensuring reliable delivery and support in challenging environments.
A key benefit of Aura’s HESS family is that they can natively host a wide range of communications, compute, data storage, sensors and effectors to better digital systems in field edge conditions. They can also be a source of rapid energy transfer for electric vehicles of all forms.
Meeting the Needs of Defence’s Integrated Force
The Defence focus on a strategy of denial demands that forward and deployed systems are resilient, secure and battleworthy. They must be able to recover from attacks quickly and with minimal human intervention to enable necessary support to counter-offensive operations. All of this while widely distributed, easily supported, minimal human intervention, and with minimal logistic demand. With the modern battlefield being highly electrified and digital its energy supplies must be assured and trustworthy to enable confident planning and conduct of battle.
As highly digitised systems are deployed in austere environments, Aura’s modular energy systems offer battle-worthy power solutions that can be easily transported and configured. By integrating computing and communications at the edge, these systems enable Defence to rapidly adapt and support operational requirements effectively.
The ability to deploy multiple units in a single container allows for rapid establishment of distributed energy solution optimised for remote operations. This agile, low-signature power aligns perfectly with the Defence’s integrated force demand for combat-ready systems that can survive and thrive in battle conditions.
As Defence suppliers deliver ambitious projects, they can face challenges regarding power provision, leading to a pervasive "everybody, nobody, somebody" problem. Aura is demonstrating leadership in battleworthy energy and delivers the tangible benefits of innovative energy solutions.
The Case for Resilience and Graceful Degradation
In the Defence sector, where super-critical systems are the norm, the consequences of a single failure can be catastrophic. Aura emphasises the importance of "graceful degradation"—designing systems that can withstand individual component failures without compromising overall functionality and designing services where individual failure of systems is equally graceful. This acknowledgement that battle is inevitably destructive and Aura’s pragmatic, proactive approach not only mitigates risks but also fosters a culture of problem-solving and resilience.
Scenario – How It Works
Consider the example of an Air Force base in the North, which could rely on just two power connectors from grid supplies which are themselves subject to forecast destruction as they operate over vast distances. If just two connectors fail, the entire base goes dark, crippling operations but the actual status of systems is not easily determined. Aura Clean Energy’s proposed solution treats the base as an integrated capability system by transitioning to a robust network of multiple power nodes, intelligently interconnected, ensuring that the overall power service, while degraded, can be quickly and mostly automatically recovered to operational status and sustain counter-offensive action. This matrix of energy service, supported by digital management and machine-driven recovery enhances overall resilience and operational readiness while avoiding unnecessary use of skilled technicians to recover systems under battlefield conditions.
Addressing Cyber Threats
As the energy distribution sector increasingly relies on interconnected systems, the risk of cyber threats looms large. Reports from the Australian Cyber Security Center highlight the vulnerabilities associated with using foreign-made equipment, which can expose critical infrastructure to unauthorized access and data breaches. Aura prioritizes security in its systems and supply chain, ensuring that the energy solutions provided are not only efficient but also resilient against cyber threats.
Tailored for Defence
Aura’s plan in the energy landscape for Defence and critical infrastructure is through clean energy innovation. By focusing on delivering tailored, resilient solutions that address the unique challenges faced by Defence, Aura Energy is not just providing power; it is empowering organizations to operate confidently and decisively in a complex and aggressive world.
As they continue to innovate and expand their capabilities, Aura will play a crucial role in ensuring that Defence in all its domains is equipped with the reliable energy solutions it needs to survive and succeed in its missions.
Invitation to Meet at Land Forces
Meet Air Commodore John Oddie AM CSC, Aura’s Head of Energy Systems, along with Cameron Baker, CEO, and Steve Walker, General Manger Field Systems (all Veterans) at our stand C-018 at Land Forces to learn more about how Aura is shaping the future of energy solutions to enable Defence success in delivering Australia’s National Security.
